Characterization of solid polymer electrolyte based on gum tragacanth and lithium nitrate

Tragacanth Gum is a natural gum that has been widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. The electrochemical properties of the gum have not been explored yet. Therefore, in the present work solid polymer electrolytes based on Gum Tragacanth (GT) and Lithium nitrate (LN) have been synthesized by solution casting method. The dissociation and complexation of the salt with the host polymer are confirmed using XRD and FTIR studies. Impedance analysis was carried out using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the temperature range of 308-343 K. The highest ionic conductivity at room temperature is found to be 8.28 x 10(-3) Scm(-1). The temperature dependence of the system GT:LN was found to obey Arrhenius behavior. Dielectric studies were carried out using impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range 10 Hz-4 MHz. Transference number study showed that the main charge carriers were ions and electrochemical stability window for the highest conducting electrolyte was studied using Linear sweep voltammetry. Thermogravimetry studies showed that thes electrolytes are thermally stable.